Robertson’s 45 Goals Put Stars in $12 Million Nhl Trade Rumors
nhl trade rumors around Jason Robertson turned sharper on Friday when Elliotte Friedman said the Dallas Stars would have no choice but to pay him. Robertson led Dallas with 45 goals and 96 points, and Friedman put the next deal at around $12 million a year.
That estimate lands on a forward who is in the final year of a four-year deal with a $7.75 million cap hit. Dallas was bounced in the first round in six games by the Minnesota Wild, and the front office now has Robertson’s contract sitting beside other pending decisions.
Robertson’s Price Tag
Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday that Robertson “took care of business this year,” then added that the Stars told him, “Don't worry about the contract. Let's see how the year goes, and we'll see what happens when it ends.” He then put the number on the table: “they're gonna have no choice but to pay him, and I believe that's gonna be around $12 million a year.”
Robertson is a pending restricted free agent, and Friedman said he thinks the winger will want the same contract Mikko Rantanen got. He also said he would be surprised if Robertson does not get it, and that the only way the situation goes another way is if Robertson decides he wants to go elsewhere.
Bourque And Benn
The contract math does not stop with Robertson. Friedman pointed to Mavrik Bourque as the next piece Dallas has to handle, saying, “The thing that's really interesting about that is Mavrik Bourque.” Bourque is also set to become a restricted free agent in the summer after posting 20 goals and 41 points this season while playing on a $950,000 salary.
Friedman said the Stars “have to give him a new contract, too,” and then asked, “I just wonder if they're gonna have room.” His point was direct: when Robertson’s deal rises to “12 here, ish,” it could be a problem for Dallas to fit in other pieces like Bourque.
Benn’s Dallas Future
Jamie Benn adds another layer. The 36-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and Friedman said Benn could contemplate retirement. He called it “a big decision,” noting that Benn is a franchise legend and will have his number retired, while the choice over where his career goes next may fall to Benn or the Stars.
For Dallas, the next move is less about chasing a headline and more about sorting the order of business after a first-round exit. Robertson is the priority because of the season he just posted, Bourque is next in line, and Benn’s future sits in the background as the roster gets reshaped around a star winger who just made himself much more expensive.
